St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen

“We welcome all who come to eat yet distinguish no one. We treat everyone with the dignity that is theirs as God’s children in the hope that each person will reclaim the dignity provided them in the image and the likeness of God in Jesus Christ.”

From our humble beginnings, of handing out sandwiches from the trunk of a car thirty-five years ago, this ministry has grown to the point now where it operates seven days a week, 364 days a year. Each day of the year (except Christmas Day when other churches take this responsibility), St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen serves a hot meal to approximately to those in need. In addition, each guest is also provided with a bag lunch “to go” providing 2000 calories a day to help meet additional nutritional needs.

St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen is primarily supported by parishioners from the Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea; however, our mission and goals are also supported by most of the churches and temples in Key West, by restaurants, by government grants and by the good will of thousands.

With admiration from the Municipal Government of the City of Key West, St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen has been invited to become the foundation for integrated services for the homeless in the City of Key West. In spite of current renovations, The Soup Kitchen continues to prepare all of its meals at it’s 2700 Flager Avenue site. However, currently, the food itself is being served at the Keys Overnight Temporary Shelter (KOTS) located on Stock Island by Southernmost Homeless Assistance League (SHAL) volunteers. Due to the impending construction of housing by Catholic Charities on 2700 Flagler Ave., the preparation of food will take eventually take place in the New Beginnings Building. Until that building is prepared with a kitchen, the preparation of the food has begun this week in the Klaus Murphy Center. The food will continue to be picked up and served at KOTS by the SHAL workers.

In Luke 10: 38-42, we hear of Saint Martha who busied herself in the kitchen. This ministry is now renamed the Martha Ministry. When construction is completed for the kitchen in New Beginnings Hall, it shall be renamed Saint Martha Hall.

If you would like to help with Martha Ministry, please contact the Director of the Soup Kitchen, now the Director of the Martha Ministry, Mary Leen, 603-801-6562 or at mdleen@msn.com.